Nope, this isn't a post about re-packing the wheel bearings on the hauler, or replacing the torn engine mount on the truck so that I can make it to the track, this one is about spending time on the new-to-me KTM, learning to ride in the dirt.In March, after a great opening weekend with EvolveGT at VIR, a handful of us continued further south to do some dirt riding in North Carolina. With the exception of my weekend at CornerSpin in 2014, I've never really had any real time on knobby tires, but KNEW that it was an invaluable skill. Renowned instructor Ike DeJager was on hand for us, and we spent the day getting lesson, doing drills, and having a blast, which helped everyone from rank amateurs like myself and Paul, to very experienced dirt riders like the Bonelli's and Sheldon! We then put all this into practice with some trail riding, an impromptu drag race in the sand, and then capped the day with a little bit of air time on the MX track! (That photo doesn't look impressive, but it felt like I was 20 feet in the air!)

Thanks to the inevitable last minute crunches before race season and other commitments, I haven't gotten to get dirty again much since then (with the notable exception of a day in the coal with Pete, Jarrod, Fred, and Andy) but with the insistence of fellow CCS racer and all-around great guy John Bonelli, I headed up his way for a little fun this past weekend. John is not only a great track-riding coach, he's a great dirt bike coach as well! Throughout the day, he constantly took me slightly outside my comfort zone (read as: slow), and while I'm still VERY green, things started to click, and I was really seeing why dirt riding is such a great skill for a road racer to have as we ended up doing 60 miles of trail riding that day! Besides being a heck of a workout, being comfortable with the machine moving around under me will definitely translate to improved confidence on the racetrack!

It's a LOT dirtier than the setting sun shows, believe me!!

We ended up doing 60 miles of trail riding that day, and though I'm sore basically from head to toe, I would have been a LOT worse off after my close to 10 "off's" during the day if not for the body armor, neck brace, and hydration system from Leatt, boots from Sidi, and helmet from Scorpion - I'm putting every piece of this gear through the wringer thanks to my riding 'style', and it's done amazingly well at protecting me from...well, ME!Until next time - may your Pirelli tires be hot, and your drinks cold! Summit Point on May 28&29, GET IT!!!